Smart ways to save energy in your home

Who doesn’t love a list? And when that list can save you money – well, it’s even better isn’t it? So, here’s our list of energy saving tips for your home – because only someone silly would want to waste money on their energy bills.

1.Take control

It’s all about being in charge and not letting your thermostat get carried away, just turning your central heating down by 1° could save you around £85-£90 every year. Also think about your lifestyle and whether your current heat settings actually complement it – if you’re out all day there’s no point in having the heating on is there?

2.Don’t standby

Switching off your appliances at the plug will save you about £30 every year.

3. Kitchen cuts

Kitchens are a minefield of wasteful habits and bad planning could be costing you money every year, remember these tips to help conserve your cash:

If you’re boiling water in a pan, put a lid on it – you’ll save energy because the water will heat quicker

Turn the oven off a few minutes early and let your food cook in the residual heat (always check your food’s properly cooked though).

Instead of defrosting food in the microwave, plan ahead and take frozen food out to defrost in the fridge overnight.

Make sure your fridge keeps its cool – but not too cool. Keep it away from direct sunlight and cookers but don’t run it at too low a temperature – between 3° and 5° is just right (freezers should be set at -18°).

Defrost your freezer every now and again, heavy ice build-up means it has to work even harder to keep your food frozen.

Dryers sap a lot of energy. Hang laundry outside whenever you can and make the most of the summer breeze.

Fill your kettle with the amount of water you actually need, you’ll use less energy heating it up.

4.Showers not baths

According to the Energy Saving Trust, if you ditch the bath and opt for a five-minute shower then a family of four could save up to £20 a year on their gas bill. And if you spend a minute less then you could save an additional £10 per person every year (but we wouldn’t recommend shunning the shower altogether unless you like to be avoided).

5.A game of draughts

Fill in the gaps in windows, under doors and floorboards and you could save up to £25 or £35 a year on your heating bills. Find out how much it would cost to insulate your attic or cavity walls – it’ll cost a bit to do but in the long run it could save you even more.

6.Be ‘appy’

You will soon have your smart meter which will allow you to see the exact amounts of energy you’re using and can help you save. There are also several gadgets, gizmos and apps, such as Nest and Hive, that will let you control the temperature in your house (even down to the room) which gives you maximum flexibility when it comes to managing your heating. You can even control your heating when you’re out and about so nothing’s wasted.

7.Let there be (energy saving) light

When energy saving lightbulbs first came out they were usually met with groans every time you switched one on – bad lighting and taking an age to ‘warm up’ meant they were no one’s favourites. Now we’re glad to say technology’s moved on and energy saving bulbs actually work like they should – plus they’ll save you about £35 a year.

8. Layer up

Remember when your mum went on and on about ‘keeping your chest warm’ and wearing a vest? Well, she was right. Layering up in winter means you’ll keep the chill off your body and not have to stick the heating on the minute the sun decides to hibernate.

9.Clean up

That build-up of fluff in your tumble dryer could be preventing it from drying efficiently so make sure you clean out the lint tray on a regular basis (if you decide you can’t live without it – see point 3!) Also make sure your washing machine and dishwasher pipes are clear so that they can work to full capacity. If you’re feeling really keen, vacuum radiators to ensure the heat flows freely rather than just warming up the dust (plus running around with a hoover will keep you warm in the winter).

10. Old boilers

Boilers are expensive to replace but if yours is on its last legs it’s worth thinking about replacing it for a newer, more efficient one. Alternatively consider putting a jacket on your boiler to keep it warm and cosy.

11. The appliance of science

Technology’s always moving on and chances are that this year’s appliances will be more energy efficient than the ones that came out last year. While we’re not suggesting you buy a new washing machine every 12 months, think about whether you’ve got anything that’s worth upgrading to a newer, more economical model if you can afford it as it could save you money in the long run.

Start comparing

Saving energy doesn’t have to be about making big, grand changes, it’s just about making a few little adjustments around the home. And the added bonus? Well, being more aware of how we’re using energy and water we’re helping the planet too – what’s not to like?

Plus, if you want to spread the love to your bank balance – think about switching supplier. comparethemarket.com customers have saved an average of £461 a year, according to our data from January to April 2016 – so why not join them?

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